Is white MOP dead?

[Joss]

I was talking to a maker of fine folders (mostly) yesterday, and he mentionned that his dealers are requesting black lip pearl. When he explained that BLP in the right sizes has become unavailable he was answered that 'white mother-of-pearl is dead'.

What do people here think with regard to that?

I have limited experience with white or black pearl, but what it tells me is that although BLP looks great in picture, white mother-of-pearl is often much nicer in person.

 

[jdm61]

I hope it's dead.....I would hate to have it start squirming around in my hand while I was trying to cut something

 

[SharpByCoop]

White lip pearl a trend to be dismissed? Right now his singular demand for blacklip would seem to be a trend. My experience still shows the demand.

White pearl will always remain as a pinnacle scale material signifying elegance.

No, I don't agree. Interesting to note, though. There may be a reduction, but dead is too harsh to call.

Coop

 

[Danbo]

As long as it has the colors shimmering throughout, white pearl is as nice as just about anything out there.

 

[JB in SC]

As long as it has the colors shimmering throughout, white pearl is as nice as just about anything out there.

White mother of pearl has been the standard for elegant folders for a hundred years or so....

 

[Joss]

White lip pearl a trend to be dismissed? Right now his singular demand for blacklip would seem to be a trend. My experience still shows the demand.

It would be interesting to know what your customers (dealers) think.

 

[JatMat]

I sure hope it is not dead, I hope it will always be a standard option for customs.
I would not part with my WT Fuller, MOP at any price. of course I like Harvey's BLP too.

 

[Stephen F]

I like both, and have two White MOP handled pieces on order (placed in the past 6 months) - for me presentation White MOP with nice fire is up there with any other of the best materials, and more robust than most.

Dealers cater to trend and fashion, they have to to keep the inventory turning over, Black Lip is popular at the moment. For a dealer to say MoP is dead is a typical extremist rhetoric used for effect with little reference to any underlying facts and figures.

Stephen

 

[Jon Brand]

Its definatly nice but I am real attracted to the colors of BLP. I also love brown lip but almost never see it. Is that very rare?

 

[Kevin Jones]

IMO, BLP & GLP popularity will come and go, however white MOP will always be a excellent option to add a classic and elegant effect to any high end piece.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

If I was to have a gentleman's bowie made, it would have a frame handle with white MOP scales. I prefer presentation grade white MOP over Blacklip MOP.

 

[RogerP]

If I was to have a gentleman's bowie made, it would have a frame handle with white MOP scales.

It would probably have to be white. You almost never see blacklip in bowie-sized dimensions. I remember at Blade a few years back some supplier had a set of huuuuge blacklip scales that went for some astronomical figure due to the rarity of the size.

Roger

 

[Joss]

I prefer presentation grade white MOP over Blacklip MOP.

Based on my very small sample, so do I.

 

[ddd]

I have a good feeling that many on this Forum will really like this
matching pair Tim Hancock made for his section in my second book,
"Art and Design in Modern Custom Fixed-Blade Knives".
Shimmering and radiating MOP handle scales, don't you think?

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

 

[Kevin Jones]

I have a good feeling that many on this Forum will really like this
matching pair Tim Hancock made for his section in my second book,
"Art and Design in Modern Custom Fixed-Blade Knives".
Shimmering and radiating MOP handle scales, don't you think?

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

David, was hoping you would post that one. A couple very good examples. The "Cowboy Bowie" is one of my favorite Hancock designs.
Should be getting one soon as a matter of fact. :thumbup:

 

[commodorewheeler]

I actually prefer blacklip quite a bit more than white MOP or the gold lip, but like many mentioned before me, it just isn't readily available in the sizes and thicknesses that I would want.

 

[Kohai999]

Great stag, ivory and pearl are natural materials of EXTREMELY limited supply.

In a perfect world, people just starting out, or who make boring ass knives would be limited to equally boring assed materials...until proving worthy of the good stuff.

But the world isn't perfect.....the RE-SUPPLY of black lip we saw a few years ago was not, from what has been explained to me, current supplies of black lip...it was from a shell collector who passed away, and who's black lip was introduced into the supply chain....for a while it was inexpensive enough, and plentiful enough that those that wanted could afford and use it....those times are passed again.

I LOVE black lip pearl, it is my first favorite material for a beautiful folder or inlay material....but ANY dealer that claims white MOP to be "dead"...is an idiot, plain and simple....and just like those who shouldn't have been using black lip in the first place, should be limited to a supply of just starting makers and/or boring assed knives.

White MOP is a fabulous material and will never be "dead"...but it may not be the flavor of the month again for some time....in vogue materials always rotate.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Don Hanson III]

White pearl is not dead. But on fine folders, black lip is much more popular.

I haven't use white pearl in 4 or 5 years but I have use a lot of black lip.

I have a good supply of white pearl and do like it, but no one is asking for it.

 

[Jon Brand]

Don, you haven't had any more of that brown lip in ages right? Now that is some colorful stuff. I'm sure if you brought a folder to a show with white MOP you'd have less then a problem selling it. Might be worth it.

 

[Joss]

White pearl is not dead. But on fine folders, black lip is much more popular.

I haven't use white pearl in 4 or 5 years but I have use a lot of black lip.

I have a good supply of white pearl and do like it, but no one is asking for it.

That says a lot.